What must I Do to Have Eternal Life?
May 1, 2005 - Matthew 19.16-22
Open It
What would you do (buy, spend, give, save) if you suddenly received a million dollars?
Which is more dangerous and why: being very rich or being very poor?
What does a individual's checkbook reveal about him or her?
Explore It
What question was asked of Jesus at the beginning of this story? (19:16)
How did Jesus respond to the man's question? (19:17-19)
What astonishing claim did the young man make? (19:20)
What further assignment did Jesus give the man who came to Him? (19:21)
How did the man react to Jesus' demands? (19:22)
Get It
What is Jesus really asking of the man in this incident?
There is one obvious answer.
There is an answer that is not so obvious that relates to the orientation of the man.
Why do many poor people have a great love for God and many rich people have no interest in God?
Why do many people long to be rich?
What would you say to the person who claims, "See, this passage teaches that eternal life is something we receive in exchange for the good things we do"?
What point do you think Jesus was making with this rich man?
Why can't moral, decent, good people make it to heaven on their own merit?
Apply It
What sacrifice are you willing to make for Christ this week, in the knowledge that you will be rewarded in heaven?
What promise from this passage do you want to claim (or even memorize) today?
Notes
Matthew 19:16: To this man seeking assurance of eternal life, Jesus pointed out that salvation does not come from good deeds unaccompanied by love for God. The man needed a whole new starting point. Instead of adding another commandment to keep or good deed to perform, the young man needed to humbly unite with Jesus, and become a disciple.
Matthew 19:17: In response to the young man's question about how to have eternal life, Jesus told him to keep the commandments. Jesus then listed six of them, all referring to relationships with others. When the young man replied that he had kept the commandments, Jesus told him that he must do something more-sell everything and give the money to the poor. Jesus' statement exposed the man's weakness. In reality, his wealth was his god, his idol, and he would not give it up. Thus he violated the first and greatest commandment (Exodus 20:3; Matthew 22:36-40).
Matthew 19:21: When Jesus told this young man that he would "be perfect" if he gave everything he had to the poor, Jesus wasn't speaking in the temporal, human sense, he was explaining how to be justified and made whole or complete in God's sight. It might be that Jesus was not asking the man to become a pauper. Jesus was asking him to change the orientation of his life from things to people. His "things" were in the way.
Matthew 19:21: Should all believers sell everything they own? No. We are responsible to care for our own needs and the needs of our families so as not to be a burden on others. We should, however, be willing to give up anything if God asks us to do so. This kind of attitude allows nothing to come between us and God and keeps us from using our God-given wealth selfishly. If you are comforted by the fact that Christ did not tell all his followers to sell all their possessions, then you may be too attached to what you have.
Matthew 19:22: We cannot love God with all our hearts and yet keep our money to ourselves. Loving him totally means using our money in ways that please him.